phrase🎓 English idiom

all ears

fully ready to listen

What it means

Eager and completely ready to listen to what someone is about to say. It tells the speaker they have your full, undivided attention.

Examples

  • Tell me everything about the trip — I'm all ears!
  • When she mentioned a pay rise, the whole team was all ears.
  • Go on, I'm all ears; I want to hear the whole plan.
  • He leaned forward, all ears, as she explained the secret.

Where it comes from

An old hyperbolic image, found in English since at least the 17th century and used by Milton, suggesting one is so attentive as to be made entirely of ears.

Related idioms

#keep an eye on#read between the lines#you can say that again#ring a bell

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